YouTube Star Kian Lawley Responds After Being Cut From Movie Over N-Word Video

An old video is costing a YouTube star a high-profile job, with Deadline reporting that Fox has axed Kian Lawley from an upcoming movie after a disturbing video surfaced in which the star can be heard saying the N-word.

Lawley, 22, had been cast in Twentieth Century Fox’s upcoming film “The Hate U Give”, and had already filmed his scenes. After the video came to light, Fox decided to recast his role and reshoot the scenes.

The YouTuber responded to the news on Twitter Tuesday, expressing that he understand the decision and that “it would not be appropriate for me to be involved considering the actions of my past.”

I respect Fox’s decision to recast this role for The Hate U Give as it is an important story, and it would not be appropriate for me to be involved considering the actions of my past. I understand the impact and I have grown a lot and learned since then.

“Due to the controversy surrounding his past comments and behaviour, Kian Lawley will no longer appear in ‘The Hate U Give’,”a Fox spokesperson said in a statement. “The studio plans to recast the role of Chris and reshoot scenes as needed.”

In a 12-second video posted on YouTube, Lawley can be seen apparently using the N-word at least once, possibly twice.

You can watch the video below, in which the racially offensive words have been bleeped out.